Game appakatus



^ rgf....f.isage j u i 50 placed on a bose l.

, l 2,139,210 Y Bsmsrrc Germ Arrsrsros Erwin Sauer-bier, Berlin, Germany*Application March 15, 193s, sein N 196.066

. InGermanyItarch16,1937- 1a claims. (c1. evamn This invention relatesto ballistic game 'appriratus in' which the player tri'es to hit amovable aim.

It is nn object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus o f.the lrind described.

To this end, the apparatus is equipped with a casing from which light isexcludei and a movable aim is arranged in the casing. In a preferredembodiment of the invention target is mounted to rotate in the darkenedcasing and carries a plurality of aims, for instance, representetions oiairplanes. A proiector projects a ray oi light against the movable aim,or the rotary target, es the case may be, a sight is arranged forobserving the aim, or aims, and a scanning device is combined with theprojector and arranged to be operated in such manner that the axis oi'the projector and the axis of the scanning device intersect at the aim.

The scanning device may be independent oi', or

operatively connected to, the projector. In the Erst case, it ispossible to operate the projector with one hand, and the scanning devicewith the other, to moire their axes intersect at the aim.

In the second case, the scanning device is operatively connected to theprojector, and the intersection of the axes is eected positively.

The term "scanning device includes en imitation of s. gun by which aprojectile is thrown against the aim, and a scanning device proper bywhich the aim is merely aimed at. und n sonnning member, or. scanningpoint, is provided i'or indicating when the stm would have been hit.

.In the accompanying drawings an apparatus l equipped in imitation of agun es the scanning device, and one equipped with an electric scanningdevice. are illustrated by Way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is e. perspective illustration of the ilrstfmentioned apparatus Fig. 2 is a partly sectional elevation of thesecond-mentioned apparatus,

Fig. 3 is in end elevation of the apparatus,

viewed iromtlie right in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional elevation oi' en interruptor forming partof the apparatus, and

Fig. 5 is a diagram of its connections. Referring now to the drawings,und iii-st to Fig. 1, g casing 2 from which light m excluded, isProjecting from the iront end Wall 3 of the darkened casing is the butt4 oi a gun whose barrel 5 projects into the casing. A target 6 isarranged et the opposite end of the casing, and rotated, or otherwisemoved, continhere shown as pictures lof airplanes, are painted on thetarget B.

A iight projector 9 is rigidly connected to the scanning device, or nun,1, 5 and its iight ray il! illuminates a small portion of the target 6.5

The axes of the gun and ci' the projector are so. arranged as tointersect at the target. A A sight 'l issecured in the front end well 3of lthe casing above the butt d of the gun through which the playerobserves the target. I! desired 1o this 'sight may 'oe equipped withoptical means by which the sims 2 are enlarged or reduced to make themappear nearer or farther away.

If it is desired that other persons should observe the operation of theapparatus, a hood l i 15 is arranged above the target S, with aninclined mirror l2 above a hole i3 in the top of the casing 2. Insteadof cutting away the wall of the casing at i3, it may be ma detransparent at this point, for instance, be made of glass. 20

The scanning device, or Kun, il, E, and the projector ii which, asmentioned. a rigidly connected to the gun, are mounted in n sphericalbearing. or some other suitable device. permitting oi universal movementci the two elements. The play- 25 er has the impression of e. night sq,since the casing 2 is darkened, and thc aims 8 only become visible itmoving through the light rey O.

He now tries, by rocking the gun and the proiecad tor, to hit one' oi'the aims 8 with s. projectile from the gun. Instead of being rigidlyconnected, as shown.

the gun 6i, E end the projector 9 may also be arranged i'cr independentmovement, as men- 35 tioned, so that the opexntor handles the gun withone hond, and the projector with the other.'

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, this apparatus is onein which the eim'ismerely scanned, and

no projectile is thrown against it. The numo ber of scanning 'operationsperformed by the player is indicated on the diei 62 o an automaticcounter, and the number of "hits is indlcuted on c. similar dial 6l,Fig. 3. In the example illustrated, the apparatus is shaped like an 4.5

enti-aircraft gun whose darkened casing 2 is supported by a suitablecolumn, or tube, 60. It is coin-freed, i3 being the coin chute.

The scanning device is mounted in a spherical bearing i8 in the frontend well oi' the casing 2. 50

The projecting end oi the scanning device is shaped like the butt i9 ofa pistol, with a. trigger 25. The target 8 is inclined, as 'shown inFig. 2, but hns been shown vertical in the diagram Fig. 5

. m, .i.. .i....,..

D-JY by a Suitable 310W?. not shown. Aims 8, for the sake of simplicity.The sight l is aru c Jaw.:

' inserted between the sight and the target.

The target is rotated by arnotcr iii. Fig. 5,- and is supplied withcurrent from one terminal of e. battery ,d whose other terminal isearthed. The target is made of metal, oi' spherical Configureetion, a-ndcovered with a. loyer i5 of insulating material et its back. The sims 8nre pins with widened heads: i5. extending through the insulotingmaterial, and are earthecl, or connected to the earthcd terminal of thebattery (l5. A point 36 of an interinpier 22 is arranged to engage theheads IE 4of the sim pins ii.

The interrupter 22 is mounted in a bracket 2i at the end of a .rod 2Uwhich extends inwardly from the bail bearing i8 ci the scanning device.An annular check 23 limits the oscillation of the scanning device aboutits ball bearing i8 so that lthf.` movement'oi the interrupter point 36is limited to the area of the target. A projector tube,` with s. lamp 9at its lower end, is secured to the rod 20 at such un angie that its raystrikes the target 5 on its front side at s. point which. is e7:- actlyopposite the point where the armature poi-nt 3S of the lnterrupter 22 ispositioned at the Yrem' side of the target.

The' trigger 2E, as best seen in Fig. 5, is equipped with a returnspring. and its pivot is earthed. A Contact 25 is secured on thetrigger. When the trigger is puller, its contact 25 first engages aContact 2l at the free end oi a spring. and finally forces this contactagainst e fixed contact 28. The spring supporting the contact 21 isconnected to a Wire- 53 from Whose end a wire 5l extends to one terminalof the lomp 9 and a Wire 5B with a manually operated switch 5S extendsto one terminal of the motor i4. the switch 58 the motor H is cut outfor arresting the target 6.

From the fixed contact 28 a wire 55 extends to one terminal 5d of theinterrupter 22. The interrupter is equipped with o. coil 2S whose inletend 5| is connected to the wire 58 by n wire 50.

When the trigger 25 is pulled. the contacts 28 and 2l close the circuitsof the lamp 9 and the motor M, the target S starts rotating and isilluminated by the ray of the projector 24. As in the apparatusdescribed, the. player sees what appears to be a. night sky where theaims 8 only become visible when moving through the projector rey. Bypulling further the trigger, the operetor causes the contacts 2i and 2Sto engage and to maire the circuit of the intermpter 22.

The coil 29 of the interrupter, Fig. 4, has an armature 3D which itattracts, when excited, against action of a return spring 3|. The springis placed on a rod 33 projecting from the armature, Aand is insertedbetween u dislc 32 atl the free end of the rod, and a fixed abutment 34of the bracket 2i. At the end which is opposite the red 33, and facingthe baci: ofthe target 6, is arranged the point 35 which is guided in utubuler extension of the armature 3U, und urged toward the target 6 bye. spring 35. When the armature is attracted by the excited coil 29, the

free end of the point is forced against the insulating layer l5 of thetarget 5 at that point where the target is struck by the projector rayat its opposite side. The point is determined by the angular position ofthe scanning device.

Connected to the terminal 54 which. us described, is connected to thecontact 28 by the wire 55, is. an interruptor comprising an adjustablecheck 38, end a. spring 39. The spring 39 is ar.. ranged on an arm 4Dwhich is pivoted on s. support 82 at 4i. 43 is a. preferably adjustable.

becket the free end o1' the erm dii. on the s rmsture 3) extends intotween the check 43 und the arm '40..

When the coil 2S is de-energ'i'fied the return spring 3i moves thearmature 3G to' the lett in the check 33 which now makes contact withthe spring 33 through o. hole in the arm. This makes the circuit of thecoil 2S. On the other hand,

-wlren the coil 2S is excited and attracts its Fig. 4, and the dog lidmoves the arm il'ageinst i ing the circuit of the coil 29 and allowingthe' return-spring 3l to return the armature 30 into its initialposition where the circuit of coil 29 is again made. -It will beunderstood that the interrupter 22 operates as en automatic cut-out butat a comparatively low frequency since the circuit of coil 2S is onlyinterrupted after the armature 30 has moved throughs. given distance.The frequency can he regulated within certain mits by adjusting thecheck 63, and it must be such that the knocking of the point 36 againstthe back of the target 6 makes the impression of machine-gun re.

The outlet terminal 52 of the exciter coil 28 is connected to thecontact check 3B at 63. When the spring 39 on the arm do makes contactwith. the check, the terminal 52 is connected to the' contact 28 throughwire 55. i

From 53 a. wire 6i) extends to a coil 6| which` through e. magnetarmature, or the like, operates the operation counter 82, Fig. 3.connected to the wire 46 which. as described, is connected to theterminal 5l of the coll 28 by wires 48 and 50 so that thecounter coil 6Iis connected ,in parallel to the lnterrupter coil 29. It is thereforeenergized und de-energized at the same time as the coil 28 and theindicator on the dial is moved on for one numeral for everyreciprocetion of the armature Si). By these means. the counter 82 showshow often the point 3S has engaged the baci: of the target 6 and isdesigned for opening the switch 4l in the wire 45 after given number ofscanning operations, say, 250.

The point Sii is connected to a terminal 6I, Fig. 4, which, in turn, isconnected to the coil 65 of the hit counter 'i by a wire 53. 'I'he collS5 is also connected to battery 45 bywlre 63. The hit counter coll 65 isexcited when the point 38, upon attraction of armature 30, strikes oneo1' the heeds i6 at the back of the target, i. e., the aim hes been hitby the player. Mechanical or optical signalling means such as anincandescent lamp i2 connected to the wires 53 end 46 by wires 'i0 and1I, may be provided xor indicating the hits to other persons. l

The hlt counter 61 een be equipped with a. premium-paying mechanism. Thepremia. are paid by a device having an electrcmegnet 69 counected towire 63 by a Wire including a. switch 68. The switch 58 is normally openund is closed by the counter 67 after a predetermined number of hits.

The coin control will now be described. A coin inserted in chute 11*passes a coin tester andthen arrives in the position illustrated in Fic.5 where it completes an auxiliary circuit 14. The auxiliary circuit isconnected to magnet l5 which operates a. delayed coin ejector which atthe same time may be 9. counter, nnd to two magnets 'I8 and 'I3 The coilEl is' v br wires l andf'l', respectively, which return the Theoperation is as follows.

'the armature 3Q now begins to-knocli against the l counters 32 and 61into aero position.

' its mentioned, theswitcl'i il is opened by the Y. operation counter 62when the. maximum number ol' ocerationshas been attained. When themagnet it returns the counter to zero position,- ihe switch 'i is closedand the apparatus is xeturned into lic-tive position. Y v

The player selves the butt 'i9 or' the scanning deviccvand pulls thetrigger 25. When contacts and 27 engage the circuits of lamp 9 andmotor' ill are,.closed,.as described, and the player l now observes,through tbe sight "l, a bright circular spot of iight at the centre olthe target 6 at the roar of the apparatus. He: now tries to catch-one ofthe aims 3 on the target and to l'ollow it with' the spot of light byturn-lne; the scanning device in its bearing i8. He now pulls thetrigger 25 further to place the contact 2'1 against the fixed contact 2Sand to close the circuit of the interrupter coil 2S., The point 36 ofback of the target and the current impulses produced thereby aretransmitted to the coil Si or counter 52, and indicated. On the otherhand, since' the back of the target 5 i; lined with insulating materiall5, the circuit 4of the coil G5 of the hit counter 67 can only be closedif the point 36 strikes one of the heads i6. This., however, will onlyoccur i! the aim is exactly at the center ot the light spot as the axisof armature is the extension of the projector axis.

This operation is continued until the counter S2 opens the switch 61 sothat the apparatus must be made ready for use by throwing in anothercoin at 73. The delayed operation of the ejector magnet 15 is providedin order to eiiect reliable operation of the electromagnets 1 8 and 'I9after the insertion of a coin.` l

The column 8U may be made adjustable as to height, and may also bearranged to be tilted, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from which light is excluded,a movable aim in the casing, a projector for projecting 'n.ray of lightagainst the aim, a sight f or observing the aim, a scanning pointarranged fin the axis of the ray, a scanning device i'or positioning thepoint with respect to the aim, and electric means on the scanning devicefor operating the point.

' 2. In a ballistic game apparatus@ casing from which light is excluded,a movable aim in the casing, a projector for projecting a ray of lightagainst the aim, a sight for observing the aim,

-a scanning point 'arranged to reciprocate inf the' axis of the rey, anautomatic cut-out for operating the point, a scanning device forpositioning the point with respect to the aim. and electric means on thescanning device for controlling the cut-out.

3. In a ballistic gerne apparatus, a casing yfrom which light isexcluded, a movable aim in the caslne', a projector for projecting a rayot light against the aim, n sight for observing the aim, s. scanningpoint arranged to reciprocate in the axis of the ray, an automaticcut-out lor operating the point, a scanning device for positioning thepoint with respect to the aim, electric means on the scanning deviceforcontrolllng the cut-out, and an operation counter under the controlof the] automatic cut-out.

4. In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from whizh light is excluded,e. movable aim in the casinia projector for pojectins a ray of lightagainst the aim, a sicht for observing the aim, a.

an exciter coil for IJperatinfgy the point, a scan.-

.aasaalo .7 1 3' ,ning device for positionimv the point with respecttothe aim, electric nica-ns on the scanning device for controlling thecut-out, and a'n operation counter including a coil connected inparalle] tothe exciter coil. j

. 5. In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from which light isexcluded, a'movablc aim in the casing. a projector for projecting a 'rayoi light against the aim, a sight i'or observing the aim, a

scanning pointarranged to reciprocate in the 'axis or the ray, anautomatic-cut-out for operat-V ing the point, a scanningr device forpositioningthe point with respect to the aim, electric-'means on thescanning device -for controlling the outout, a circuit connected to theelectric means, an operation counter under the control of the automaticcut-cut, and an lnt'errupter switch arranged in the circuit and underthe control of the operation counter.

6.l In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from which iight isexcluded, a movable aim in the casing, a projector for projecting a rayof light against the aim, a sight for observing the aim, a scanningpoint arranged in the axis oi the ray, a scanning device for positioningthe point with respect to the aim, electric means on the scanning devicefor operating the point. and a hit counter under the control of thepoint.

7 In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from which light is excluded,a movable aim in the casing, a projector for projecting a ray of lightagainst the atm. a sight for observing the aim, n. scanning pointarranged in the axis of the ray, a scanning device for positioning thepoint with respect to the aim, electric means on the scanning device foroperating the point, a hit counter under the control oi .the point, anda premiumpaying mechanism under the control of the hit counter.

8. In a ballistic game apparatus. a casing from which light is excluded,a movable aim in the casing, a. projector for projecting a ray of lightagainstthe aim, a sight for observing the aim, e. scanning pointarranged in the axis of the ray, a scanning device for positioning thepoint with respect to the aim, electric Ymeans on the scanning devicefor operating; the point. and signailing means under the control ot thepoint.

9. In a ballistic game apparatus, a casing from which light is excluded,a movable aim ln the casing, n. projector tor projecting a ray oi lightagainst the aim, a. sight for observing the aim. a scanning poinJarranged in the axis of the ray. contact pins in the aim adapted to beengaged by the point, a circuit including the pins and arranged to bemade and broken by the point, a hlt counter in the circuit. a scanningdevice for positioning the point with respect to the aim,

manolo ,A Y l Honing point with respect to the sim, end I l sitioningthe point with respect to the sim,A

counter unciel-` the controller' ciut-out, a. cir- A cuit arranged tomatie by a. coin, and n. cci in inev circuit for return-ing theoperation counter foto zero position.

411, In a coinfcontrolied; beiiistic game appa.-

ratus, a casing from which iiiz'nt is excluded. s

moveble sin; in the casing., a projector-for projecting e ray of iightagainst 'the aim, a. sight for observing the aim, e, scanning pointarranged in the mais of the ray, o. scanning device for poelectric meanson the scanning device foroperating the point, s. hit ccunier under thecontrolv of the point, s circuit arranged to be made by a coin, and a.coil in. the circuiizfor returning ti-.e hit counter into zero position.Y

12. In a, ballistic game apparatus. a casing from which iight isexcluded, a. movable aim in the casing, en electric motor for drivingtheairn, a projector for projecsing a ray of iight against; the aim, aeight for yobserving the aim, ascenning point arranged in the exis oi'the ray, circuits connected to the motor, the projector, and

A. the scanning point, a. scanning device for posi.-

means on size scanning device for'rst making che projector and motorcircuits.

circuit -of the scanning point.

the aim, a sight for observing the dim, a scanning point arranged in theaxis of the ray, cirvd then me."

cuits connected no che motor, the projector, and

the scanning point. o. scanning device for positioning the peint withrespect to the aim, a trigger-*on the scanning device, o. contact on thetrigger, o. spring connected to the motor andprc jector circuits. e.contact on the spring arranged to be engaged by the trigger Contact, anda fixed Contact connected to the circuit of the scanning point andarranged to vbe engaged by the contact on the spring after the contactson the trigger and t-he spring have been placed into co-oper ativerelation.

f ERWIN SAUERBIER.

